Page 82 of The Monster I Loved
“I’ll go help Eden bring out the plates and other things,” I said.
Thad, who’d appeared to be suffering from hearing loss just moments ago, looked up. “Bring out some more steaks.”
“Oh, so your ears do work just fine,” I said, lifting both hands to my hips.
Thad didn’t look amused. “Henry’s a better man than I am. I’d have snapped F’s neck.”
I hated it when he talked like that, because Thad was the kind of man who might keep his word and follow through.
Inside, Daisy, Eden, Ashley, and I gathered plates and made a salad, while Thad worked the grill and talked to Henry, who had Cora tucked under his arm. Felix, I noticed, was far at the other side of the yard, busily scrolling his phone.
That was the safest place for him to be. Our little group was really over.
“So, Summer, spill it. What’s the plan for you and Thad?” Eden asked, interrupting my thoughts.
I turned away from the window and found all three women staring. “We’re getting married, and my baby will be financially well off.”
Ashley and Daisy looked at each other. Eden rolled her eyes.
“I’m going to do what I should’ve done in the very beginning. Lead by example and forgive Thad.” The kitchen was silent, so I used that opportunity to continue. “I know it won’t be easy, but hating him was proving to be even harder than you could imagine.”
Ashley spoke first. “With all I’ve learned, the two of you make way more sense than Thad and Mimi.”
“How’s Melissa doing after getting dumped?” Eden asked, and we all looked to Ashley for an update.
“Well, they only ever had sex. Mimi wasn’t in love with him, plus she’s been walking around with a smile on her face, so there must be somebody putting it there.”
My eye roll was unintentional. First, yeah, of course Thad and Melissa had sex. However, sharing anything with that woman wasn’t my preference, but we weren’t together then. Second, I wondered whose happily ever after she was sabotaging now.
“Oh shit!” Daisy shouted and pointed at the window behind me.
“Fire!” Eden yelled before I could turn around.
My eyes widened in horror at the fire by the grill. Flames grew, consuming the grill and part of the fence behind it. My heart pounded as I ran toward the door and pushed the screen door open, my stomach flipping in knots. Once outside, I stood and searched the yard. Thad had been running the grill. Where was he? The heat from the flames reached me all the way over here. What if...?
No.
“Eden, get the fire extinguisher!” Henry yelled.
“Where’s Thad?” I finally managed to scream. My legs moved faster; they seemed to have a mind of their own.
“Summer, back away!” someone yelled, but I paid them no mind.
I felt a hand around my waist.
“I’m right here.”
My heart soared in my chest.Thank God!When I wrapped my arm around him, a burst of strength rushed through me. I could finally breathe normally. My chest had been burning like I was about to collapse. The only thought that raced in my head wasThaddeus, Thaddeus, Thaddeus, and that amount of worry concentrated on a single person could drive you crazy.
I could taste relief once the warmth of his body enveloped me, his muscles like a thick blanket draping around me.
“Haven’t you ever taken a basic fire safety course? Everyone knows you’re supposed to run away from the fire, not get closer.”
Was he scolding me? For a brief second, I thought to snap back but shook the idea from my head. Thad was alive, and that was all that mattered.
“Just shut up and hold me.” Minutes ago, I felt like I’d traveled back ten years, and Thad was leaving me again. I clung to him tighter.
He cradled me, and I could’ve stayed in his arms forever.
